Avian Flu Resources

HPAI Information

As the situation with HPAI evolves, it is imperative that our members have the latest information about the outbreak.

Here is a fact sheet pertaining to managing birds during the recent HPAI outbreaks: Managing birds on your farm during HPAI.

There are digital links on the backside of this fact sheet that connect people to various HPAI resources from Cornell and partners, the NYS DEC policies regarding nuisance animals (including birds), and a USDA APHIS resource about improving biosecurity.

Where do I report sick birds?

• NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets: 518-457-3502
• USDA: 866-536-7593
• Your local Cooperative Extension Office: https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/local-offices
• Unusual illness and deaths of wild birds can be reported to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The link to this map shares the office contact information by region: https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/558.html

If you think your flock has been exposed to HPAI in Madison County, contact:

• Maryellen Sheehan, Agriculture and Horticulture Resource Educator - ms3573@cornell.edu, 315-684-3001- ext 126

NPIP (National Poultry Improvement Program):

There are many hatcheries that participate in this program, which tests against poultry diseases, including Avian Influenza. Participating hatcheries also have biosecurity measures in place to help mitigate the risk of disease on their farms, which means a lower risk to you if you’re buying chicks in. If you aren’t sure if the hatchery you source from is NPIP certified, you can use this NPIP Participants States page to search for them (the map is clickable): http://www.poultryimprovement.org/statesContent.cfm

Defend the Flock - Resource Center

The Defend the Flock Resource Center brings together biosecurity information and free resources from USDA and other experts, including growers, veterinarians, state agencies, scientists, and industry professionals.

All the information you need to practice good biosecurity is available here , including checklists, resource guides, videos, and other tools: www.aphis.usda.gov

Best practices include:

• Discourage unnecessary visitors and use biosecurity signs to warn people not to enter buildings without permission.
• Ask all visitors if they have had any contact with any birds in the past five days.
• Forbid entry to employees and visitors who own any kind of fowl.
• Require all visitors to cover and disinfect all footwear.
• Lock all entrances to chicken houses after hours.
• Avoid non-essential vehicular traffic on-farm.
• After hauling birds to processors, clean and disinfect poultry transport coops and vehicles before they return to the farm.
• Report anything unusual.

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time.

Disinfectants:

• Over 200 disinfectants can be used against HPAI on hard, non-porous surfaces.
• More information about using disinfectants against HPAI can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/antimicrobial-products-registered-disinfection-use-against-avian-influenza
• The list of registered products can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-m-registered-antimicrobial-products-label-claims-avian-influenza

The New York specific hatchery page can be found here:

http://www.poultryimprovement.org/documents/ny.pdf

HPAI in Dairy Cows Recording Available

The HPAI webinar from Thursday, June 13 is now available as a recording:https://vod.video.cornell.edu/media/NEDPA+NYFB+HPAI+Update+June+13+2024/1_vmhtk21s

This presentation, sponsored by New York Farm Bureau and NEDPA, in conjunction with Cornell University featured a panel of veterinarians from Cornell PRO DAIRY, the College of Veterinary Medicine and dairy industry representative Dr. Carie Telgen.

Last updated March 3, 2025